“The Ottoman Revolution of 1661”: The Reconfiguration of Political Power under Mehmed IV and Köprülü Grand Viziers

Abstract

This article examines the rise of the Köprülü grand viziers and their relationship with Sultan Mehmed IV (r. 1648–1687) within the context of broader developments in early modern Europe. It challenges the prevailing view that Mehmed IV was a weak Sultan, arguing that at a time of profound crisis the Sultan succeeded in creating a new political system, which simultaneously restored the authority of the Sultan whilst bolstering that of the Grand Vizier. It explores the various ways in which this system was established, from relocation of the dynastic seat to changes in recruitment networks. The reconfiguration of political power under Mehmed IV and the Köprülü viziers is approached through the lens of royal-favorite relationships in seventeenth-century Europe. Although there was no European equivalent of a number of elements in the Ottoman system, such as a harem-based court or the Grand Vizierate, we can nevertheless apply key concepts and debates gleaned from early modern Western and Central Europe – such as the politics of access and intimacy, the place of favorites, and the delegation of royal power – to enrich our understanding of the early modern Ottoman experience.